America's Future Update on China

Update on Military Strategy

U.S. intelligence and defense officials confirmed that, in August 2002, China sold Iraq chemicals used to make fuel for long-range missiles with help of brokers in France and Syria. Bush Administration officials said the sale was described in intelligence reports as a "dual-use" chemical, and was bought by an Iraqi company in charge of making solid missile fuel for long-range missiles. China has been identified as a major supplier of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons components and missile systems to rogue states.
Washington Times, 3-15-03

U.S. security officials say that the Chinese government, contrary to public statements, is unwilling to support U.S. efforts to end the North Korean nuclear weapons program. Senior officials say that Chinese companies continue to export nuclear, chemical and biological weapons materials and missile components, despite claims by the Chinese that they are curbing exports to rogue states.
China Reform Monitor NO. 482, 1-27-03

China's political strategy toward the Korean peninsula should be seen in terms of its long-term goal to force American military and political influence out of the Asia-Pacific region, writes Peter Zhang in the New Australian.
China Reform Monitor, No. 483, 2-6-03

Update on Free Trade

Do you remember how U.S. farmers were promised a market of 1.3 billion people if Congress would grant Most Favored Nation status to Communist China, greasing China's admission into the World Trade Organization in 2001? China's broken promise to buy more U.S. corn has cost American corn farmers more than $500 million in losses, reports the Bloomberg News Service. America's $100 billion trade deficit with China in 2002 jumped by 20% after China's WTO entry. Not only has China kept U.S. corn, soybeans and cotton out of its market, China has elbowed U.S. farm goods out of markets Americans once dominated such as South Korea. Other U.S. companies trying to sell in China face obstacles ranging from lax copyright enforcement to unfair contract practices, said Bill Reinsch, head of the U.S. National Foreign Trade Council. "Our companies get taken advantage of by an indigenous Chinese competitor or a small-time local official out to screw them. There's no legal recourse."   China Reform Monitor No. 488, 3-11-03

Microsoft signed a pact with the Chinese government to reveal the Windows source code. Bill Gates hinted that China will be privy to all, not just part, of the source code. On a two day visit to Beijing, Gates said he is pleased with the pact.  CNETAsia, 2-28-03

Update on Human Rights

China's crackdown on North Korean refugees has resulted in thousands of destitute people being returned to the brutal Pyongyang regime, according to the Washington Post. This signifies Beijing's policy of keeping the North Korean bosses in power and preventing a massive refugee flow. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees says that returning refugees are met with execution, prison, torture and slave condition detention in government forced labor camps. North Korea's Stalinist economic policies have caused a famine that has killed over 2 million people. The Asian Wall Street Journal reports that "China is the one country most reluctant to dislodge Kim Jong-il."  China Reform Monitor No. 482, 1-27-03

The 21st Century World Herald newspaper was closed because it published articles comparing China's retiring leaders with a younger generation taking the reins of power.  China Reform Monitor No. 489, 3-17-03

On a 5-day visit to China in March, Fidel Castro received a warm welcome from Chinese Communist Party leaders. China has replaced the Soviet Union as Cuba's top trading partner, and Castro provides China with its most significant electronic spy base near the United States.  China Reform Monitor No. 487, 3-3-03